Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET

This leaflet answers some common questions about Magnevist. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor.

All diagnostic agents have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you using Magnevist against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about using this diagnostic agent, ask your doctor or radiologist.

Keep this leaflet.

You may need to read it again.

WHAT MAGNEVIST IS USED FOR

Magnevist is used at the same time as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to aid in the detection of abnormalities in the brain, spinal cord, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, bones and muscles in adults; and in the brain and spinal cord in children and babies.

MRI is a form of medical diagnostic imaging that forms pictures after detecting water molecules in normal and abnormal tissues. This is done using a complex system of magnets and radiowaves.

Magnevist is a liquid that alters the way in which the MRI machine detects certain tissues within the body. Magnevist often makes the pictures clearer and often shows things that may not have been visible using MRI alone.

Magnevist is only available at MRI units for use in conjunction with MRI.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Magnevist is being used in you.

Your doctor may be using it for another reason.

BEFORE YOU ARE GIVEN MAGNEVIST

When you must not be given it

You must not be given Magnevist if you have an allergy to:

dimeglumine gadopentetate, the active ingredient in Magnevist

any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

shortness of breath

wheezing or difficulty breathing

swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body

rash, itching or hives on the skin.

You must not be given Magnevist if you have severe disturbances of kidney function.

You must not be given Magnevist after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

The doctor will check this for you.

If you are not sure whether you should be given Magnevist, talk to your doctor/radiologist.

Before you are given it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.

Recent information shows that gadolinium (as in Magnevist) may accumulate in the brain after multiple use. To date, no adverse health outcomes associated with retention of gadolinium in the brain have been identified or reported.

Your doctor will:

carefully consider the risks and benefits of repeated doses

use the lowest dose

Tell your doctor if you have, or have had, any medical conditions especially the following:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding.

Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

Tell your doctor if you have a heart pacemaker or any material implanted in your body

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you are given Magnevist.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and Magnevist may interfere with each other. These include:

beta-blockers (medicines used to treat high blood pressure or other heart conditions)

These medicines may be affected by Magnevist or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.

Your doctor/radiologist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while receiving Magnevist.

HOW MAGNEVIST IS GIVEN

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions given, ask your doctor.

The radiologist (MRI specialist doctor) will advise the use of Magnevist if he/she feels that it is likely to assist the MRI examination in finding out more about your condition.

You should also fast for the last 2 hours prior to the examination but you may drink as usual. Further directions will be given by your doctor.

How much is given

The actual dosage of Magnevist that is right for you will be worked out by the radiologist and will depend on the region of your body to be examined. Normally only a single dose of about 15 to 20 mL of Magnevist will be required.

How it is given

Magnevist is injected by a doctor via a small needle into a vein, usually in the back of your hand or in front of your elbow.

When it is given

Magnevist will be administered immediately before your MRI examination.

How to prepare the MAGNEVIST syringe for injection

Glass syringe only:

Peel the cover from the syringe tray and take the syringe and plunger rod out of the package.

Screw the plunger into the syringe tightly

Break the first part of the protective grey cap.

Remove the protective grey cap from the tip of the syringe.

Remove the black stopper from the second part of the grey cap.

Remove the air in the syringe.

Plastic syringe only:

Hand injection:

Open the package

Take the syringe and plunger rod out of the package

Screw the plunger rod into the syringe

Unscrew the cap from the syringe

Remove the air in the syringe

Injection with a power injector:

Open the package

Take the syringe out of the package

Unscrew the cap from the syringe

Connect the tip of the syringe onto the tubing system and follow the device manufacturer’s instructions

If you are given too much (overdose)

As Magnevist is administered by a doctor, overdose is unlikely. If it does happen, the doctor will treat any symptoms that follow.

If you currently have a problem with your kidneys or liver, the doctor may decide to remove Magnevist from the body by means of a blood-cleansing procedure (dialysis).

Immediately tell your doctor or other medical staff or telephone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia: 13 11 26 or New Zealand: 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) for advice if you think that you or anyone else may have been given too much Magnevist. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

AFTER HAVING MAGNEVIST

Things you must do

Follow carefully the directions given to you by your doctor and other medical staff.

Things to be careful of

Tell your doctor if you are going to have any laboratory tests.

Delayed reactions may occur. In this case Magnevist could prevent you from driving safely and the ability to operate any tools or machines may be impaired.

SIDE EFFECTS

Tell your doctor/radiologist as soon as possible if you do not feel well whilst receiving or after being given Magnevist.

All contrast media can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

dizziness

headache

unpleasant/altered taste

nausea or vomiting

local reaction around the injection site namely, pain, coldness, warmth, or a burning sensation.

The above list includes the more common side effects of Magnevist. They are usually mild and short-lived. If they persist or get worse, tell your doctor.

Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and should not be exclusively relied on to manage or diagnose a medical condition. NPS MedicineWise disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer. This website uses cookies. Read our privacy policy.